What Are Prisons For?: Themes and perspectives for policy and practice

by Hindpal Singh Bhui

What does a good prison look like? Over eleven million people are currently locked up in prisons across the world, but does that mean that prison actually works? The answer usually depends on what people believe and feel about crime, punishment and what happens inside prisons. The deep social and personal impact of prisons demands that we try to search for a better understanding of the evidence and ideas that have made prisons so ubiquitous. Hindpal Singh Bhui, with 20 years’ experience of visiting and working in prisons worldwide, argues that we need to look at who is sent there and why, to disentangle reality from ideology and myth. Introducing the competing histories of prisons and allowing the voices of prisoners, prison staff and victims to be heard, he asks whether there is a better way to achieve what society wants from its prisons.

182 pages, Paperback

Published March 26, 2024

Reviews

[Mia Quinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and brief read on prisons. Something I wanted to know more about since I work with so many people who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. Austin made a smart ass comment on me reading a book on prisons the day before we get married lol

[Liam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a lovely first introduction for me to the topic of penal systems. Hindpal Singh Bhui provides insights into the goals of prisons, the methods they use to achieve their goals, and the outcomes they produce. This short, digestible read has left me hungry to explore the questions to the answers the author has posed.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some great insights here, though I believe the structure could have been re-worked a little to simplify and create some more clarity.